Skateboard Foot Pedal Mechanism

ABSTRACT

A manually operated propelling method for skateboard or longboard skating comprising of an attachable foot pedal mechanism. The mechanism translates linear motion from the user to rotational motion at the wheel of the skateboard. This mechanism allows the rider to propel the skateboard forward without having to remove a foot from the skateboard deck. This is achieved by pushing a spring loaded pedal mounted on the board, which moves a bracket containing a unidirectional ratchet styled gear, which then drives a driving gear that is clamped to the one of the skateboard trucks, which in turn interacts with a driven gear attached to one or more wheels of the skateboard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus which transfersenergy from a manually operated mechanism to a wheel or wheels on askateboard. In particular, to an apparatus which can transfertranslational energy from a foot pedal to a gear train, and from thegear train to a driving wheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section introduces aspects that may help facilitate a betterunderstanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, these statements are to beread in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about whatis or is not prior art.

Skateboards are old and well known in the art. The common way to propela skateboard is to kick the ground with one foot while the other remainsstationary on the board. Even on flat ground, enough energy is lost dueto friction between the wheels and the ground that the user is requiredto kick the ground repeatedly to propel the skateboard. This causes amoment of imbalance, as the user has to momentarily support their weighton one foot in order to kick the ground, thus increasing the risk ofinjury.

A common alternative to constantly kick the ground to propel theskateboard is to use an electric motor powered skateboard. The electricmotor powers the wheels of the skateboard, drawing power from a battery,which propels the skateboard, freeing the user from kicking the groundas a means to propel the skateboard. This technology is expensive topurchase and, with the electric motor needing to be recharged, is notalways able to be used if the battery depletes its electrical charge.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,465,056 to Weir et al. discloses a longboard skatingpropulsion pole which is used by pushing the ground with the pole usingyour arms.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,192,038 to Tsai discloses a foot propelled scooter wherethe primary way of propelling the scooter is with two foot pedals.

Therefore, there is an unmet need for a more affordable approach toeliminating the constant need to kick in order to propel the boardforward to overcome the small amount of friction between the wheels andground. Thus there is a need to provide a system for propelling theskateboard forward without having to remove one foot from the board tokick.

SUMMARY

An apparatus which is a system that transfers manual input from a footpedal on the board moved by a foot of the user to one or more wheels ona skateboard.

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide asystem that converts the linear motion from the foot pedal intorotational motion for a wheel of the skateboard.

It is a further objective of the present invention to allow theskateboard user to avoid removing one foot from the board toconsistently kick the ground to propel the board on a flat surface toovercome the friction between the wheels and ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective partial front view of the present inventionmounted to skateboard truck

FIG. 2 is a perspective partial front view of the gear train

FIG. 3 is a perspective partial rear view of the spring loaded footlever and mounting plate

FIG. 4 is a perspective partial front view of the bracket and springhooks

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thepresent disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodimentsillustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used todescribe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitationof the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

In the present disclosure, the term “about” can allow for a degree ofvariability in a value or range, for example, within 10%, within 5%, orwithin 1% of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range.

In the present disclosure, the term “substantially” can allow for adegree of variability in a value or range, for example, within 90%,within 95%, or within 99% of a stated value or of a stated limit of arange.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerousmodifications can be made to the specific implementations describedabove. The implementations should not be limited to the particularlimitations described. Other implementations may be possible.

Now referring to the figures, illustrated in FIG. 1 is a preferredembodiment of a foot propulsion mechanism comprising a spring loadedlever and mounting plate assembly 11, truck mounted gear train 12, andsliding bracket assembly 13. The mounting plate assembly 11 is securedto the skateboard deck and the truck mounted gear train 12 is secured tothe skateboard truck 3. When the foot lever 7 is pushed, translationalenergy is transferred to the bracket 5. The spring 10 pushes the footlever 7 up once the energy is transferred to the bracket 5. The pivotarm 8 keeps the bracket 5 to a single direction of motion, which avoidsthe spring hooks 6 from losing contact with the driving gear 1. Thehinge 15 attaches the pivot arm 8 and bracket 5. The spring hooks 6contact with the driving gear 1 is where the translation energy from thefoot lever converts into rotational motion. The driving gear 1 transfersenergy to the driven gear 2. The driving gear 1 is attached to thedriving gear clamp 4 through an axle 18. The driven gear 2 is attachedto wheel 17.

Illustrated in FIG. 2, the truck mounted gear train 12 consists of adriving gear 1, a driven gear 2, the skateboard truck 3, and the drivinggear clamp 4. The driving gear 1 is attached to the driving gear clamp 4through an axle 18. The driven gear 2 is attached to wheel 17. Thetranslational energy from the mounting plate assembly 11 is transferredto the driven gear 2 from the driving gear 1 through the sliding bracketassembly 13. The actuating motion from foot lever 7 pushes the slidingbracket assembly 13 through the pivot arm 8. Once the actuating motionis complete, the user can release the pressure on foot lever 7 inpreparation for the next actuating motion. The driving gear clamp 4secures the driving gear 1 to the system by attaching to the skateboardtruck 3.

Illustrated in FIG. 3, the mounting plate assembly 11 consists of amounting plate 9, foot lever 7, spring 10, and pivot arm 8. The mountingplate 9 incorporates holes that are of the same dimensions as standardmounting dimensions of skateboard trucks, and therefore are secured tothe skateboard through the use of screws through screw holes 16. Thefoot lever 7 is attached to the mounting plate 9 through a lever hinge14 and through the pivot arm 8 and the spring 10. The spring 10 keepsthe foot lever 7 in its upright position when the user is not depressingthe foot lever 7. The pivot arm 8 is attached to both the foot lever 7and the sliding bracket assembly 13 through a hinge 15 on each end.

FIG. 4 represents the sliding bracket assembly 13 that ultimatelytransfers the input energy from the foot lever 7 and pivot arm 8 to awheel on the skateboard. The bracket 5 is attached to the pivot arm 8 bya hinge 15. When foot lever 7 is depressed, the pivot arm 8 pushessliding bracket assembly 13 in a sliding action in the directionopposite to the direction of travel. The sliding action forces thespring hooks 6 to engage the driving gear 1, causing the driving gear 1to rotate. The spring hooks 6 are unidirectional pivoting hooks that usesprings to set their default position. This allows the spring hooks 6 topropel the driving gear 1. When the foot lever 7 is fully depressed, thespring hooks 6 will not impede the rotation of the driving gear 1. Thisensures the device is able to propel forward without stopping or slowingdown, allowing the user to coast.

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachable human-powered propulsion apparatusfor any type of skateboard comprising: A method for a user to accelerateforward without removing feet from the vehicle. A foot supporting pedalthat attaches to the top surface of the vehicle A power-transmissionresponse for causing at least one of said wheels to spin as a result ofthe depression of one's foot A pivoting means for said foot pedal thatallows a long lever arm to have an optimal angular deviation during apedal stroke A method of returning the pedal to an upright positionafter foot depression.
 2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein saidhuman-powered propulsion apparatus comprises of a mounting plate securedto the skateboard deck and skateboard truck by sharing the use of theskateboard truck fasteners.
 3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein saidapparatus can be installed on any existing skateboard that belongs tothe user or is available for purchase.
 4. The vehicle of claim 1 whereinsaid foot supporting pedal contains a supporting arm and horizontalpivot to transfer downward energy to horizontal forward and backwardsmotion
 5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the pedal-returning methodcomprises of a spring apparatus.
 6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein thedownward force of the foot pedal spins a driving gear by means of aunidirectional gear train apparatus.
 7. The driving gear of claim 6wherein the gear spins freely and is mounted to a solid member that isstatically secured to the solid truck axle of the skateboard.
 8. Thedriving gear of claim 6 wherein there is a driven gear staticallysecured and not able to spin independently to the roller wheel of theskateboard.
 9. The statically secured solid member of claim 7 wherein acollar-style clamp is used to secure the solid member to the solid truckaxle of the skateboard.
 10. The foot pedal of claim 1, the springapparatus of claim 5, and the unidirectional gear train apparatus ofclaim 6 are secured by the mounting plate of claim
 2. 11. Theunidirectional gear train apparatus of claim 6 wherein the gear trainspins the driving gear counterclockwise to the frontward direction ofthe skateboard. The gear train is keyed to only allow propulsion of thedriving wheel in the counterclockwise direction and does not interfereor cause the driving wheel to spin clockwise.